make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness
(2 Peter 1.5-6)
There’s a sequence that starts with faith. Each step builds on the previous. Faith - goodness - knowledge - self-control - perseverance - and now, godliness.
Let’s pick up with self-control.
Self control
This term occurs only in Acts 24:25, Galatians 5:23 and 2 Peter 1:6. This word is about power, control. The ability to restrain ourselves and abstain.
In the New Testament, the emphasis is not upon our strength of resolve but upon the Holy Spirit’s control. We see this in the key passage, Galatians 5.16-26. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit’s presence. It is something that arises when our purposeful participation is focussed and brings us to harmony with Christ.
This is the difference between ancient Greek and Roman and Christian thinking here. In Greek and Roman thinking, self-control was something to enforce upon ourselves. For the Christian, self control is enabled from a rich communion with the Holy Spirit. This is what gives us power over ourselves.
And this is why we seek the Holy Spirit. He is not simply an experience. He lifts us up, to commune with Christ and glimpse the future. And He brings us a taste of the fullness to come. But we seek Him not to escape reality; we seek Him to harness us in Christ, to be yoked to our master. And for this, even with the Holy Spirit’s enabling, we have to stay focussed and play our part. We need to hold to self-control.
Perseverance
This word, also translates as ‘patience, steadfastness, endurance’. It’s about keeping going. Persevering not only in self-control, but in that which enables self-control: communion with the Holy Spirit.
There’s a huge amount of slog in the Christian life. As there is for all people. For us, as disciples of Christ, there is the daily challenge of bringing our Christian identity and character into everyday life. What are we to be patient about? What are we to endure? There are moments when we ‘soar’, when we catch sight of what is to come. When we see and sense the presence of the Kingdom of God. And then there are the times of getting on with it.
Faith, which is purposeful participation in the life and ministry of Christ, requires us to focus. In adding goodness,we are grounded in communion with the God of Glory, who calls us into His goodness: His compassion, graciousness, slowness to anger, mercy, faithfulness, constant love and forgiveness. Once this is grasped, we have to hold to Christ and continuing with Him on this transformational journey. It is this that leads us into worthwhile worship: godliness.
(2 Peter 1.5-6)
There’s a sequence that starts with faith. Each step builds on the previous. Faith - goodness - knowledge - self-control - perseverance - and now, godliness.
Let’s pick up with self-control.
Self control
This term occurs only in Acts 24:25, Galatians 5:23 and 2 Peter 1:6. This word is about power, control. The ability to restrain ourselves and abstain.
In the New Testament, the emphasis is not upon our strength of resolve but upon the Holy Spirit’s control. We see this in the key passage, Galatians 5.16-26. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit’s presence. It is something that arises when our purposeful participation is focussed and brings us to harmony with Christ.
This is the difference between ancient Greek and Roman and Christian thinking here. In Greek and Roman thinking, self-control was something to enforce upon ourselves. For the Christian, self control is enabled from a rich communion with the Holy Spirit. This is what gives us power over ourselves.
And this is why we seek the Holy Spirit. He is not simply an experience. He lifts us up, to commune with Christ and glimpse the future. And He brings us a taste of the fullness to come. But we seek Him not to escape reality; we seek Him to harness us in Christ, to be yoked to our master. And for this, even with the Holy Spirit’s enabling, we have to stay focussed and play our part. We need to hold to self-control.
Perseverance
This word, also translates as ‘patience, steadfastness, endurance’. It’s about keeping going. Persevering not only in self-control, but in that which enables self-control: communion with the Holy Spirit.
There’s a huge amount of slog in the Christian life. As there is for all people. For us, as disciples of Christ, there is the daily challenge of bringing our Christian identity and character into everyday life. What are we to be patient about? What are we to endure? There are moments when we ‘soar’, when we catch sight of what is to come. When we see and sense the presence of the Kingdom of God. And then there are the times of getting on with it.
Faith, which is purposeful participation in the life and ministry of Christ, requires us to focus. In adding goodness,we are grounded in communion with the God of Glory, who calls us into His goodness: His compassion, graciousness, slowness to anger, mercy, faithfulness, constant love and forgiveness. Once this is grasped, we have to hold to Christ and continuing with Him on this transformational journey. It is this that leads us into worthwhile worship: godliness.
